Deep impact

Summary
• Palgrave Brown has opened a dedicated SIPs manufacturing plant.
• Gang-Nail Systems has joined the House Builders’ Federation.
• Finnforest’s SoundBar System was developed specifically for use in timber frame.
• Companies remain confident in the long term demand for housing.

The growth of timber frame construction has had a significant impact on the wider timber industry, with some companies attributing up to 70% of their business to the sector and many adapting and developing their product ranges with timber frame in mind.

Manufacturer Palgrave Brown (UK) Ltd, for example, supplies a wide range of products to the timber frame industry, from mouldings and staircases, to floor systems, roof trusses, spandrel panels and, its latest innovation, the PB SIPS building system. “Expansion is on the cards for us in some sectors – we have just opened our dedicated SIPs manufacturing plant in Shropshire,” said commercial director Mike Fleming.

“We listen closely to the market’s requirements for our product development strategy,” said Mr Fleming. “SIPs and spandrel panels are items that we have added to our product portfolio as construction moves towards MMC to trim build times, reduce health and safety issues and improve quality through standardisation.”

SAP calculations

On the service side, he added, Palgrave Brown can help resolve Building Regulations compliance issues by arranging a project’s SAP calculations and condensation risk analysis. Other services include a Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) assessment and a complete in-house truss design service.

Manufacturer of roof truss systems and the metal web Ecojoist, Gang-Nail Systems, part of Eleco plc, is also moving closer to its end users through its recent membership of the Home Builders’ Federation (HBF).

“Joining the HBF will allow Gang-Nail Systems to understand the challenges faced by our fabricators’ customer base,” said managing director Paul Baron. “Our ability to develop systems in response to changing market demands, driven by pressures such as the CSH and the current economic climate is dependent on a closer relationship with the end user.”

Software is an increasingly large part of the timber frame mix and Jason Ruddle, managing director of Consultec UK, also part of Eleco, reckons that around 70% of his company’s effort is focused on the timber frame sector.

The company offers standard and bespoke software design products and works closely with its customers in the drive to reduce CO₂ emissions and U-values.

“The current Consultec Framing seminars are providing us with an opportunity to discuss all the business and technical requirements needed to meet the CSH,” said Mr Ruddle. “Code level 3 applies in 2010 and level 6 by 2016, but we need to be involved very early on to be in a position to provide a product to meet these time scales.”

Finnforest is also making ongoing investment in software for the timber frame sector and upgraded its Finnframe 3.0 at the end of last year following direct feedback from its customers.

The software package, which is Eurocode 5 compliant, complements the Finnframe Floor System and, said Warren Dudding, Finnforest head of UK marketing, “can create floor cassette/panel layouts and production drawings – ideal for timber frame customers”.

Finnframe is just one piece of the jigsaw, however.“We’re closely aligned with the timber frame sector, supplying I-joists for use in floors, floor cassettes, wall and roof applications,” said Mr Dudding. “Kerto [LVL] is also a key offering to the sector and is used extensively in the floor zone, but also for beams and headers, as well as the frame itself.”

And, he added, Finnforest’s SoundBar System, designed to deliver “enhanced floor performance”, was developed specifically for use in timber frame buildings. “It’s clear that the timber frame sector is key to our ongoing strategy and development of our flooring solutions business,” said Mr Dudding.

Sector-specific products

Boise Engineered Wood Products (EWP) estimates that 30-35% of its products are used in timber frame and has also developed sector-specific products.

“Our VERSA-LAM LVL has proved very popular in beam and rim applications in timber frame projects,” said business development manager Simon Jones. “The 38mm has proven itself a product of choice in a rimboard application for a number of timber frame manufacturers specialising in multi-storey apartment projects.

“However, more recently, and in conjunction with Crown Timber plc, our UK wholesale distributor, we identified a need for a lower cost rim solution for standard housing and are in the process of launching our 32mm-wide VERSA-STRAND OSB rim.”

He added that the introduction of Boise EWP’s 220mm-deep ALL Joist product a year ago was specifically to meet a need from a large timber frame manufacturer which rationalised its design and supply.

Wolf Systems also works in tandem with timber frame operators, recognising that the sector’s growth is fundamental to its own business success. “One example of this was the Robust Standard Detail E-FT-3 we achieved for our easi-joist system,” said sales and marketing director Alan Ritchie.

“This involved identifying a suitable timber frame project through our manufacturers and then working closely with the manufacturer, main contactor and sub-contractors to ensure everything was detailed fully for construction and pre-completion testing. The result is that easi-joist now has RSD and can be used in any timber frame apartment project.”

Ventilation, roofing accessory and building membrane specialist Glidevale has seen “significant growth” thanks to the resurgence of timber frame construction. “Specialist building membranes remain a core part of our business with almost 20% of the overall Glidevale activity fed by the timber frame sector,” said product manager Louise Chew.

Topping the product list are the reflective low emissivity breather membrane Protect TF200 Thermo and the reflective low emissivity vapour control layer Protect VC Foil, both of which are BRE certified and enhance thermal performance.

“The success of our product development relies heavily on working in partnership with the timber frame sector to fully understand and prepare for future requirements,” said Ms Chew.

Knowledge sharing

“A new CPD seminar developed by Glidevale to explain the benefits of low emissivity technology products in timber frame construction has been welcomed by our timber frame customers,” she went on. “We will continue to share our expertise with the industry to support the growth and success of this sector.”

Of course, a close relationship with the timber frame sector also exposes businesses to the downturn in the housing market, but the aforementioned companies remain quietly confident and, as Wolf’s Alan Ritchie maintains, “even in a slower market, timber frame can continue to grow”.

“Credit crunch or no credit crunch, the longer term demand for housing remains strong,” said Boise EWP’s Simon Jones. “We continue to work with our supply partners to provide the products to meet today’s demands and work with the innovators to offer solutions for tomorrow’s – the increased combination of timber frame manufacturing and engineered wood products over the next few years will lead to real advances in wall and roof technology.

“The variety of Timber Frame Solutions currently on offer in the UK have the capabilities to cover a wide spectrum of potential demands and the myriad of innovation currently under way throughout the land will bring yet more solutions to the fore,” he added. “The future for timber frame in the UK is huge and highly sustainable – it’s a sustainable industry providing sustainable homes.”